National chiefs: Ventilators will follow ‘most immediate need’

National and regional NHS chiefs will seek to share out scarce ventilators to ”areas with the most immediate need, on a fair share basis relative to patient ventilation need," they have told hospital chiefs, who are increasingly concerned about what they will receive and when.

Many are expecting demand for ventilated beds to outstrip what they have as the number of patients seriously ill with covid-19 ramps up.

Trust leaders yesterday told HSJ they were growing increasingly worried about the lack of information over when the machines would be sent to their trusts. Some are worried London, and other regions which see their demand spike first, will get more supply.

A letter from NHS England and Improvement to trust chiefs late on Wednesday told them that as “extra ventilators become available we will coordinate distribution via regional teams who will work with local health systems”.

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Source: HSJ, 27 March 2020